The latest transfer gossip from Old Trafford.
Manchester United to capture Hummels – with a little help from Liverpool
Manchester United appear to be closing in on the signing of newly crowned World Cup winner Mats Hummels from Borussia Dortmund – but only if fierce local rivals Liverpool help them out.
New reported suggest that Dortmund and Jurgen Klopp may now be willing to let Hummels go, but only if they are able to secure youngster Tiago Ilori from Anfield as a replacement.
The Portuguese centre back, signed from Sporting Lisbon last year, has had few opportunities for first team football at Anfield, but is highly rated by the club’s hierarchy.
Read more: Metro
Napoli chairman bizarrely declares Fellaini interest
Napoli chairman Aurelio de Laurentis has declared his interest in United midfielder Marouane Fellaini, but in typically surrealist fashion.
When asked about Fellaini, de Laurentis confirmed that his club were interested in offering the Belgian a way out of Old Trafford – partly because his large afro, along with midfielder Gokhan Inler’s shaven head, would look like a lion’s mane. What a card.
Read more: Guardian
United reserve number seven shirt for incoming Vidal
Manchester United have reserved a squad number for Arturo Vidal, reports suggest, with the Chilean midfielder’s move to Old Trafford from Juventus seemingly edging ever closer.
The number reportedly set aside for Vidal is particularly significant, as it is the number seven shirt that has previously been worn by United icons such as David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Read more: Daily Star
Red Devils never made approach for de Vrij
Despite numerous reports to the contrary, it seems that Manchester United never made an approach for Feyenoord centre back Stefan de Vrij, who has since signed for Lazio.
The player’s impressive performances under Louis van Gaal at the 2014 FIFA World Cup fueled speculation linking de Vrij with a summer switch to Old Trafford, but it would appear as though no move was ever on, with van Gaal even advising the player to move to Rome.
Read more: Express
Van Gaal turns Carrington into the Big Brother house
Louis van Gaal is watching you. The Manchester United manager has reportedly gone to extreme lengths in an attempt to claw his side back into the top four – installing £500,000 worth of cameras at the club’s training ground.
The cameras will analyse every moment of United training sessions from multiple angles, allowing van Gaal to bring a level of detail to his preparation that has rarely been seen in English football before.
Read more: Independent